Frankfurter grilling device



May 2, 1950 J. sTERlss' 2,506,318

FRANKFURTER GRILLIG DEVICE Filed oct. 9,'1947 a sheets-sheet 1` :inventor John L.. teriss May 2, 1950 J. sTERlss FRANKFURTER GRILLING' DEVICE Filed oct. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I John L 'Sfar-iss May 2, 1950 J. l.. sTERlsS 2,506,318

' FRANKFURTER GRILLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 9, 1947 95,." gag/.W

Gttomeg Patented May 2, 1950 UN IT ED STAT PAT EN-'I OF FICE GRILLING DEVICE;-

J irl/milt. S't'er's's, Brool-{l'yhg'N Y.

Application:- @ctober 9, 1947, Serial No. 778;,823

This invention relatesto new anduseful im'- provements in vapparai'fms,for grilling frankfiirters' on the.v likev anddi'spensi'ng, the..l same i'n public places.. M

An object is. to provide suchanapparatus', and one having a-large. capacity insofar as the numben of frankfurters capable. of.l being.. grilled-at one time lis concerned. Astheinventionis pref/-V erably. carried out inr` this. regard... a. number of. grillingr stations. are.v arranged. one. above. anviother.y to providea columnthereof, and apluralityt of such columnsare present in side byV side relation. K t

Radiant l heatV isalso preferably' employedv for the grilling.; and also preferablywsuchY a heating means is providedthat one oft. said r means come' mon` tov all. the stations ofa columnf-servesthat. column; each'. ofr said. heating?. means; being.. de sirably a suitably heated indirect ceramic.ra diant.- To thoroughly grill: affrankfzurter inA a litera-l sense, the samen. while subjeotedi tefradiantheat;V should beY suspended and. partake fof. a cir-.- cula-tory motion. about.` its: own.. axis.v parallel to.r the heatingameansi Suchra-suspensioneand 4rotationof a=frankfur1ter is made possible.- bythe. invention, At each of two pointer spaced.- across any grillingrv station,vv are shafts-on thelikeeaoh) carrying near an endf. thereof a plurality of. fingers fori grasping. the" opposite end. portions? off afrankfurter.. IIhese'f shaf-ts'- are continuously' rotated? in the sa-me.A di rection and at'thefsamelvelooityi.. Eachpluralit-yf offngersneed. merely be'two thereof, with atleast one finger oft each'.- plurality;- roel/:ablyvr mounted on its-shaft;

Manuallyl operalolefmeans;v are: provided at'. each: station whereby the ngers of each pain may.- be relatively. moved-V during continuousr rotation; of saidshaftsasby rockingbothngerseither tof spread them. to. allow insertion. of the: opposite: ends of'a frankfurter between the pairs rof fingers? and to -allovv removal. fromsaid.lngersofiafgrilled frarfrter', .orto pe'rm'it-tliellngerslofboth` pairs.: to moveV toward" each other to seize the opposite.

endsoffa fr'anlifilrterandY so cause the same. to..

commence rotation with said shafts. Preferably. the" ngers of each .pair ar'e. normally" yieldinglyf urged;to`frankfurterfgrasping relation..

Alsoprovided'; by" the" invention isla cradl'ing. means at" each` statibn for" receiving ai frank:- furter to be grilledand for holding the. latter in position until it is seizedby's'aid ngers andldi's, placedi fromcontact" with" the" cradliiigmeansf'or unimpeded rotation with said' shaftsg'. said'cradlr ingmeansalso4 ,forreceivirg a griiled f'anlfurter when releasedl from! said' ngers and holding' the latter. until it is removed'. from the apparatus.

Theoradlin'g means i'sv employed for. thusholding" and receiving a frankfrter only in timed-coe action' with the use of said'. manually operable means; thatfis, to maintainsaidv fingers spreadv while an ungrilled frankfurter is. inserted. from the. exterior? of. the'. apparatus into. the'. cradlingmeans, 4and While a. grilled frankfurter is removed` to the eXteriorofLthe a-pparatuslirom. the cradling means.. l

Other. features of-y the invention,y hav-ing to do with' sanitary excellencies,feconomy of operation-g.

cabinets whereby these:may be used inI various'- combinations. to comprise'L machines ofk diierent maxim-umvv possible capacities,1 universal. accessi#I bility for. servicing-- any component" of` theape-V paratus,. and' general structural: simplicity and after.

For. further comprehensionfof the invention; land of. the objects-thereon=reference wi1l behad tof-the"A followingI descriptionv and accompanyingfdrawing; andtov the. appended claims-lnxvvllichrtheY various" novel.. features =of the invention are more: particu'- larly set forth.

Inr the accompanying' drawing. forming.' ar. material ipart ofthis: disclosure:-

Fi-g. 1f is: an elevational.- View showing;r partly* structurallyv and partly schematically, various elements. of alarge-capacityr apparatus accorde' ingA to the invention;I looking tow-ard the frontv o-f .the apparatus., andwithttlhe-fronto'i the oas-f ing. ren'ioved-` and with: certainf. duplicated parts1i also omittedto avoid obscuringrt'he drawing.y

Eig. 2-is`a topman-view; withfthe-top:coveringY structure omittedftd shovvthe mainf framing: as.y well.. as. other.. elements whichl here would be best'` illustrated.

Fig'.v 3. is.. a fragmentary :frontK elevational View, shovvingpartsv othe gas-burner; means;

Fig. 4 i's anenlarged detail View. showing al' corner construction. of the: frame.

Fig. isa vertical section,- taken on: the" line 5`5 oflig'. L10I-.illustratinga' sprocket-chain drive...

n Fig... 6,2 drawn. ony a scale.- reducedf overl that of? Figi 2, is` lavtop" plan. view of theapparatus; pailn tiallgz broken away.-

Fig. 7,` drawn to the same reduced scale just mentioned, is an elevational view looking toward the front of the apparatus, for showing certain sheet members employed for partially covering such front.

Fig. 8, on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 1, is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the apparatus at a frankfurter handling and grilling location.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section, taken substantially on the line lD-l E of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is also a vertical section, but one taken on the line Il-ll of Fig. l0.

Fig. 12 is a view showing in full lines the parts -seen in Fig. 11, looking toward the right in Fig. 11.

Fig. 12A is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 12A-l 2A of Fig. l2.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing on a somewhat enlarged scale relative to that of Fig. 9, a portion of a square tube forming part of the means shown in Figs. 8-10.

Fig. 14 shows, almost to fudl size, a hand tool specially devised to facilitate handling a frankfurter for placing the same in and removing it ,I

from the grilling apparatus.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the casing for the apparatus as best shown in Fig. 2 includes a rear rectangular frame l and a similar front rectangular frame i6. Depthwisely of the casing, at opposite ends of the top and bottom thereof, the two frames are joined by four angle irons Il, all alike, as shown at the top of the casing in Figs. 2 and 4, and as indicated at both the top and bottom of the casing in Fig. 1. rThese pieces l1 are inset in the horizontal and vertical members of the yframes as shown in Fig. 4, the illustration here being in connection with the frame I6 at the upper left corner thereof as said frame is seen from the front of the apparatus.

The front yframe l@ has suitably fixed therein (Figs. 1 and 2) eight vertical partitions i8, dividing the interior of the frame into five smaller compartments i9 and four larger compartments these compartments I9 and 2l! alternating across the width of the apparatus, so that each larger compartment 2i?, these for grilling frankfurters and below called the Working cabinets, is between two smaller compartments i9, these for containing driving mechanisms for rotating the frankfurter seizing fingers and below called the drive cabinets.

Within each of the drive cabinets i9 are suitably journalled twelve short horizontal shafts 2l, one vertically above another, each equally vertically spaced from an adjoining one, and each of said shafts having fixed thereon a sprocket 22; all as shown in the case of the two of said cabinets I9 at the left in Fig. l. A sprocket chain 23 engages all these sprockets, preferably in the way shown in Fig. 5, and such chain also engages a driving sprocket 24 fixed on a main shaft 25 and further engages two idler sprockets 26. The chain 23 is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 merely by a single broken line, but said chain is preferably a ladder-type chain as shown in Fig. 2 in connection with a chain 21 coupling a sprocket 28 with a sprocket 29 on the main shaft 25.

The shaft 25 exten-ds the entire width of the apparatus, passing through suitable apertures in the partitions I8, and is journalled at opposite ends in ball-bearings 3B (Fig. l). The sprocket 28 is on the output shaft 3l of a speed-reduction unit 32 of an electric motor 33 secured to a supporting plate 34 attached to a pair of angle irons 4 34 also joining the two frames l5 and I6 at their bottoms as shown in Fig. 2.

In each of the four drive cabinets i9 to the right of the left-hand one in Fig. 1, exactly the same parts as just described in connection with Fig. 5 are present, so that on rotation of the main shaft 25, all the twelve shafts in each of all the ve driving cabinets 2li, and which shafts co1'- respond to the shafts 2l of Fig. 5', rotate in unison and in the same direction.

Each -of said shafts at a particular height in one such cabinet I9 is horizontally axially aligned with a particular one of said shafts in each of all the other cabinets i9.

Each of the shafts 2l in the drive cabinet i9 to the left in Fig. l at its right hand end carries a frankfurter-end engaging special structure (some of these being merely schematically indicated at 342' in Fig. 1, but being fully shown in Figs. 8-13 later to be described) projected into the adjoining working cabinet 28; while each of the shafts 2l, in the next drive cabinet i9 to the right in Fig. 1, at its left hand end carries one of said special structures projected in the lastmentioned cabinet 2li and at its right hand end carries also one of said special structures projected into the next cabinet 2@ to the right.

The same arrangement is true across the width of the apparatus, although not shown; in which connection it may be pointed out, as of course will now be understood, that the shafts which correspond to the shafts 2| and which are in the drive cabinet i9 at the extreme right in Fig. 1 carry said special structures only at their left hand ends, so that the working cabinet 2G at the extreme right, like that at the extreme left, in Fig. 1, will have two such horizontally oppositely special structures at each of the twelve vertically spaced grilling locations to be provided in each cabinet 20.

In regard to said special structures, although the delineations 34a thereof in Fig. 1 are applied only to some of the two columns of shafts 2| in the two drive cabinets at the left in that view, said special structures are on all these shafts as well as on the corresponding shafts mentioned in the last paragraph preceding; since each pair of said special structures at the opposite sides of each of the working cabinets 2t is employed in connection with the two opposite ends of a frankfurter 35 (Fig. 8) for gripping of the latter at its opposite ends during rotation thereof for grilling. Twelve frankfurters, therefore, may be grilled simultaneously in each working cabinet 20; or, in other words, with four such working cabinets, as here shown by way of example, forty-eight frankfurters may be simultaneously grilled in the apparatus.

Like the drive cabinet IS shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the other drive cabinets are braced by three horizontal rods similar to the rods 35 shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The grilling heat is radiant heat emitted from heat conducting ceramic blocks with cast-in holes, stacks of such blocks being arranged in vertical columns, one column for each cabinet 2U, to provide an indirect radiant heat panel at the rear of each of said cabinets. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 1, in the case of the second from the right cabinet 2B, and, as to all the four cabinets 2li, in Fig. 2.

Said blocks are marked 35, the same being .stacked in vertical channel-shaped metallic side frame members 31 carried by angle irons 38 sel cured at their tops and bottoms to the top and bottom Yof the front frame I 6 atythe :rear side thereof. At the top of a panel stack are angled clamps 3-9, held .in pla-ce, as by screws or the like, for ready removal, for adjustment for size, `and to permit replacement of damaged blocks 3B.

A suitable heating means is in the rear of each of the ceramic block panels. .Such means may be of the electrical resistance type, or otherwise; 'but as 'said means is 'shown it is of the gas burner type. Then the heating arrangement .for leach working cabinet is vas shown best in connection with the two such `cabinets at the right in Fig.. l.; :and as shown there, when taken in connection with Fig. 3, each such arrangement includes a pilot-light means as bestshown in the latter View.

The heating means for each cabinet 2li has .gas burners, each of which is -a straight Yhorizontal tube lili having burner .holes 4I, `'and all of which are oiTset from a vertical gas supply pipe 42. rFliese burners, vall capped as at `#i3 vat their ends remote yfrom fsaid 'pipe, are vertically 4aligned in parallellism with the back of a radiant panel and are uniformly spaced one above another.

As indicated in Fig. 1., the pipe 42 for the first working cabinet to theleft is toward the le'ft side of Ythat cabinet, and is connected `at vits bottom to an elbow 2li. from a .gas mixing chamber v45 supplied with gas from a main supply pipe 4S; the pipe 42 for the'next cabinet 2Q to the right is to- Ward the right side vof lthat cabinet, fand is 'connected 2at its bottom to an elbow 41 from amixing chamber 48 also supplied with gas from Ithe pipe the pipe '42 for the next cabinet 20 to the right is toward the Vleft Aside of that cabinet,

and is connectedat its bottom to 1an elbow49 from pipe e6 is ycapped as at 53'; and its other :end .ex-

tends 'toward the rear of the `appa-ratas as indicated a't 5d.

'The supply of gas to the mixing chambers 45, GAL-5c and-52 is :independently controlled as to each chamber-,either for shut off or otherwise by valves n.

particular t'o each'chamben the 'operating handles for which rvalves are marked '45'.483 5G' and 52'.

Connected to thefmain gas 'supply pipe 'or .manifold et at two points along vthe same, each such point at'th'e bottom vof -Yone of the two outer ones of "the th'r'ee Lcentral drive vcabinets i9, are 'two vertical tubular structures or 56, the bottom of eachof which is comprised of a pilot-lightvalve 5? or 53 connected to the pipe 46 .for gas feed to the `Valves. 'These two tubular structures are only fiagrne'ntarily show-n in Fig. 1 and each of the valves '51 and 53 has alpush-button valve-opening type 'of 'actuator 53 ci' 60.

Said-structures and 56 are exactly alike, as indicated'in Fig. 2; one of them, the structure 55, being shown fragmentarily but iin detail in Fig. 3. YAbovethe valve 58 is iafnipple 6l, then a coii'illiin'g 4iii to facilitate anice final connection, then another nipple 553, then va four-Way fitting til, and thereabove further nipples like 'the nipple e3 in alternation with rfurther Vfour-way fittings ell. Each iitting has offset from eachrof its two opposite sides, 'and extended toward the 'capped end of the burners tw lforthe 'two adjoining-Working 'Cabinets 2U, a Ismall tube $5 `terminating CFI 6 a pilot-ilightvnozzle 66. At the topof -thestruc ture 56, at about the level fof ythe uppermost burners -40 in said two cabinets I9, the same is topped by a closing cap as 'indicated at lli?! in Fig. 2.

A sheet metal shield '68 isfarranged in the rear of vand from top to bottom of the column of burners 4i! behin'da ceramic panel at vthe back of each of the four working cabinets 20, as 'shown in Fig. `2. Each shield 68 is laterally arched as there shown, and is suitably vsecured along its forward vertical edges to the angle irons 38. The concave 'side or" `such shield is coated with a refractory cement, as indicated at :69, and the convex side thereof is-'asbestos covered as indicated 'at l0.

These shields fare primarily used to contain the heat and should Ibe:properlysealed tozpreventheat leakage. They :should also be partitioned horizontally to compartmentalize them at leach-burner ri, and faced 'with asbestos to further :pocket the heat and prevent Avvastage thereof. There :should be three small holes 1G in each partition, clirec'tliy underneath the gas burner or bit, to .permit ignition from a lower pocket to vone thereabove.

-'Referring to Figs. i6 `and '7, the top of the rapparatus is covered with astii asbestos sheet 5H., as are .the two sides thereof, and over these asbestes 'ir-alle, sheet metal is secured as indicated at l2.

The .entire bottom Yof the Aapparatus is covered with l.sheet metal it, and 4at the four lcorners lof such bottom 'are `feet i4, the `two Afront ones ssecured ite the frame `Iii andthe two rear ones :to the .frame i5.

:rear of the apparatus is closed by :two nari-'ow fend panels 15, and a swing door l5 hinged as fat 1V' 'and 'closable by a .suitable latch lil; said door being a service door, rparticnlarly in regard to themotor3'3,

The zfront of -the apparatus lis partially closed by :metal sheet members or panels .as shown :in Fig. il; .one of such panels being a top horizontal one 721 Iextending down to aboutiwhere the 'tops of the ceramic panels made up of the blocks '46 would lie were there shown installed in this View in each ef the `Werking `cabinets 2G the parts shown Ain the second .from Athe wright such Acabinet in fFig. 1.

smother 'of said sheet metal members or panels is .a bottom horizontal @one its., for .covering the lower part' of the front of the apparatus; the panel 15a having openings as indicated through which protrude the gas valve handles i155, 48'., 5B and 52' and the .pilot-light pu`sh-buttons .59 and vii-ll andialsova rtoggle-"type switch 15 whereby electric current may be supplied to or .cut-off from the motor 33.

vBehind fthe panel e and resting `ron the bottom F53 are removable drip pans 80 'below each ofthe workingcabinets 2B.

Between the vtop and bottom lpanels 'l and 'l-if-are 'vertical sheet members or panels i8, one for closing iin the front or" each drive cabinet i9. Myoneor severallof the panels T5', Tea and 78 may `be removed, to facilitate servicing at a panticular-point As above noted, electrical heating means may be used, as in vconnection with the ceramic panels including the blocks y3S, or otherwise. -Inthat case, 'all gas lines and parts associated with or served V2thereby could 'be eliminated, by substitutinglithe Well-knownCutler-Hammer Space Heaters lBulletin #15510, and this without mechanical change-over. With such heating, it would be advisable to mount two heaters behindieach ceramic panel, and by raising one above the other, complete ceramic panel coverage can be obtained. Any standard heat control unit could be used in connection with these heaters, either of the temperature or range type.

Referring now to Figs. 8-13, and to the special structures merely schematically indicated in Fig. 1, at 39a, each such delineation 34a in the full line portion thereof represents a pair of frankfurter-end gripping lingers marked 90 in Figs. 8-13, and each of said delineations in the dot and dash portion thereof is representative `of all the parts shown in Fig. ll as carried on an end of a shaft 2l for rotation therewith additional to said ngers. rllhe iingers 90 are arranged in pivotally mounted pairs for movement toward and away from each other about axes which eX- tend at right angles to the axis of the respective shaft 2l.

Each finger is formed of a bent length of wire to provide a skeletal member as shown in Figs. 8, 9, l1 and 12.

Each finger 90 comprises a working end in the form of a lateral and curvilinearly extended stretch S', for partially girthwisely clasping an end of a rankfurter when it and its companion nger are swung toward each other at their ends having said stretches 90', and a pair of legs 9| which converge away from such stretch.

To permit such rocking of a pair of the fingers 90, to spread them as indicated in Figs- 11 and 12 for receiving or releasing the ends of a frankfurter, or to close them in toward each other as shown in Figs. 8-10 to grasp the ends of a frankfurter, the converging ends of the legs 9| of each linger are secured to spaced bosses 92 formed on rockers 93. Pins 94 span a central lateral cut-out 95 formed across a cylindrical member 9S having a base-ilarige Sl. The pins pass through the bosses 92 and pivotally support the bosses and the related rockers 93. In the rear of the flange 9'! of the cylindrical member 96 there is a reduced stern 98 suitably Xed to the associated shaft 2| as by a set-screw 99, as indicated in Fig. 11.

As shown best in Figs. l2 and 12A, the bosses 92 of one rocker 93 face the bosses of the other rocker; and between the two bosses of each rocker is a spring 00 having a coiled portion sleeving the associated pin 94 and having end extensions, see Fig. 12A, one engaging the respective rocker 93 and the other bearing against the adjacent face of the flange 9T. The springs |00 are so arranged and are under enough tension to act on the rockers 93 and urge the fingers toward each other to grasp the end of an inserted frankfurter.

Also as best shown in Fig, 12A, the rockers 93 project at their sides remote from their bosses 92 beyond the sides of the cylindrical member 96. Slidable axially of the cylindrical member 96 is a ring |92, normally forced to the dot and dash position shown at |02 in Fig. 1l by the projections lill of the rockers in response to the springs |00, and there stopped by a cross-rod |02a mounted across the front end of the cylindrical member 99.

In order to move the ring |02 from its dot and dash position |92 in Fig. 11, to spread the adjacent pair of ngers 90, an associated plate |03 is provided, pivoted on a xed vertical rod |00. In each working cabinet 20, at opposite sides thereof, there is a stack of such plates on such a rod, the various plates alternating with spacing collars |05.

Each such plate |03 is curled along its outer vertical edge at |06 where it takes around its rod |04. Each plate |03, as best shown in Fig. 10, is out away at |01 opposite its associated cylindrical member 96, but so as to present upper and lower horns |08 for engaging diametrically opposite points on the outer face of the ring |02 therebehind. On each plate |03 is xed one end of a leaf-spring |09 the other end of which bears against the adjacent partition I8, for normally urging the plate away from the associated ring |02, thereby normally to allow the associated pair of ngers to remain in their closed position.

Oifset from each plate |03 is a stud ||0, which normally abuts an L-shaped stop secured atop and at an end of a square tube ||2 slidable horizontally back and forth between its forward position shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and a rearward position. Each tube |2 sleeves loosely the main length I|4 of a bracket H5. Such bracket, shaped as shown best in Fig. 9, is formed by bending a piece of round rod stock; and to the opposite ends of the piece are secured an L- shaped foot-plate ||B attached as by screws to the iront edge of the adjacent partition l0, and a flat foot-plate lll also attached suitably to a vertical angle iron H8 at the rear edge of said partition. Each angle iron H0 is anchored at its upper and lower ends to the rear sides of the upper and lower members of the front main frame I9.

Said tube H2 is normally urged into its forward position, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, by an expansible coil spring ||9 on the main length ||4 of the bracket l5; and then, as has been pointed out, the fingers 90 are in their closed position.

When, however, the tube ||2 is moved inward, the stop il I on the tube engages the stud ||0 on the plate |03 and swings the latter to cause its horns |08 to move the ring |02, against the action of the springs, and open the ngers 90.

In order that one manual operation may Open the aligned pairs of iingers 90 at each of the opposite ends of a frankfurter grilling location, the two aligned tubes ||2 are rigidly connected at their front ends by a cross rod or bar |20.

Thus, when such a bar |20 opposite any frankfurter grilling location is pushed inward the two tubes l 2 are pushed in against their springs H9, thus swinging the two associated plates |03 toward the adjacent rings |02, and so forcing the two pairs of ngers 90 at the opposite ends of said location to open up.

At each end of a frankfurter grilling location, also, a bent wire member |2| is provided. This member is shaped as best shown in Fig. l0, and placed in adjacency to the pair of fingers 90 at its end of said location as best shown in Fig. 8. Each such member |2| at its median portion is formed to incorporate a C-shaped cradle for the end of a frankfurter, this cradle having a mouth facing the front of the apparatus; and from the upper and lower limits of said mouth the member i 2| has diverging upper and lower leg portions, said upper leg portion being secured to a forward part of the adjacent bracket ||5 for the frankfurter grilling location now being considered, and said lower leg portion being secured to a forward part of the corresponding bracket for the frankfurter grilling location therebelow, as best-I shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

Operatio11,.-Assume, for example, that in all the forty-eight irankfurter grilling locations in the four working cabinets frankfurters 35 are bef fing rotated for gril-1mg petasse rilevare engaged at their p'psite `ends jby the iirigers f'9` 'which are being rotated by the lshafts 22|. Y

To remove a grillediranlfurterat any location without stopping tire rotation fof the `lin"gers t9|) lit ism'erely Yr`iecessary to-push in 4the fbar j|2 at that location. Then that `frankfurte'r will lee1ra-@assebytnefspreaemgef itsseizfipg angers, and will ldrop into the insister-sul att at location to rest in the cradles for saidjmemberS; and, while holding the bar |20 thrust in, the released franlnurter 'may :be removed from 'said cradles. ,r

YTo replace said f'rankiiurter la one to be grilles at said irisation, 'itis merely neces sary, while holdingthle bar 'la-29 misl'ied:L `to insert the new frankfu i' :nto the cradles 'of 'the wire member a' will return the sameto its normal adyaiicedp'osi- |22, for a dual purpose at any 'lranlfurter grilling location; `that is, Vfor removing a grilled frankfurter from the cradles E2| or for replacing an ungrille'd vfranlrfurter in 'said' cradles.

The reoiflezaslmpre azi-aja :pensive nfcluees a pair cfflat jaws |23 lor gripping a trankfurter intermediate its ends. Such jaws are the end portions of a strip of spring steel given a U-bend at |24 to provide a handle portion |25, the upper and lower members of which are resiliently biased to spread the jaws |23 to a normal separation slightly greater than the diameter of the central part of the length of a -irankfurter.

The tool |22 also incorporates a short rod |25 anchored at one end to one of the members of the handle portion |25 and extended toward the other of said members and passing therethrough by way of an aperture |21 therein.

In using said tool for removing a grilled trani;- furter from any grilling location of the apparatus, the projecting bottom end of the rod |25 is effective to push in the bar |29 at that location, thereby causing the grilled frankfurter to fall into its cradles of the wire members |2| and to hold said bar pushed in, until the jaws |23 have grasped the frankfurter and moved it out of the fingers 90.

In using said tool for inserting a frankfurter to be grilled at any grilling location of the apparatus, the tool is used as just described, ex cept that said frankfurter is in the grasp of the jaws |23 before the tool is used at said location to cause the rod |26 to push in the bar |20 at that location. After the frankfurter is dropped into its cradles in the wire members l2 l, the jaws |23 are permitted to release their grasp on the frankfurter; but until said jaws are removed from the lield of rotation of the frankfurter, the lingers 9|.) are maintained spread apart and do not grip the ends of the frankfurter, this because the jaws E23 must be withdrawn before the rod 25 is suiciently withdrawn to allow said lingers to close and grip the ends of the frankfurter.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modilications coming within the scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims. Y

vio

:claim as new and vdesire to secure by Llunited states 'Leases-gatas is; A

a pair of pivotally mounted lirfgfrs l each rotary means for movement between o'pen 'and closedpo's'itionjs, one pair of 'lingersifacing the other pair thereof, means operal'ile duringu'rtation bf'said rotary means for yclos'i 'vg'said lingers 'to grasp the opr'iosite ends of a irankfurte'rfmeans manually operable during rotation of "said-rotary 'mearisyfor opening said ngers to free the frankfurt'r yfrom `said. lingers r removal ci 'thefra'nlffur't'er from the appar s during 'continued rotationoffsaid rotary means, yania Ireep T ans fe'r holding a fiarlkfu tei with each ci f1 pbosite ends adjacent nefof-'said pair'oflingers, said re ptor means including "a iranlfurfter supi/59sting ansso shaped and arranged that a frankfur er may be rested thereon out oi contactwith said 'lingerswhen the latter are pen'but in positi'nto be grippedby said "lingers 'when 'moved to their -closed position. i

y2. -Aii apparatus flier 'grilling ifi'Lillilurrterfsv or the like, comprising a grilling cabinet having a frankfurter grilling station therein, a rotary means at each of two points spaced across said station, means for rotating both said rotary means about substantially aligned axes and in the same direction and at substantially the same velocity, a pair of pivotally mounted lingers mounted on each rotary means for movement between open and closed positions, one pair of lingers facing the other pair thereof, means operable during rotation of said rotary means for closing said lingers to grasp the opposite ends of a frankfurter, means manually operable during rotation of said rotary means for opening said fingers to free the frankfurter from said fingers for removal of the irankfurter from the apparatus during continued rotation of said rotary means, and a receptor means for holding a frankfurter with each of its opposite ends adjacent one of said pair yof lingers, said receptor means including a frankfurter supporting means so shaped and arranged that a frankfurter may be rested thereon out of contact with said lingers when the latter are open but in position to be gripped by said lingers when moved to their closed position, said supporting means comprising a pair of spaced cradles located between said pairs of lingers.

3. An apparatus for grilling frankfurters or the like, comprising a grilling cabinet having a frankfurter grilling station therein, a rotary means at each of two points spaced across said station, means for rotating both said rotary means about substantially aligned axes and in the same direction and at substantially the same velocity, a pair of pivotally mounted fingers mounted on each rotary means for movement between open and closed positions, one pair of lingers facing the other pair thereof, means operable during rotation of said rotary means for closing said lingers to grasp the opposite ends of a frankfurter, means manually operable during rotation of said rotary means for opening said lingers to free the frankfurter from said lingers for removal of the frankfurter from the apparatus during continued rotation of said rotary means, a receptor means for holding a frankfurter with each of its opposite ends adjacent one of said pair of fingers, said receptor means including a frankfurter supporting means so shaped and arranged that a frankfurter may be rested thereon out of contact with said ngers when the latter are open but in position to be gripped by said fingers when moved to closed position, said supporting means including a plurality of elongate members each bent to include a portion constituting a cradle for an end portion of a frankfurter.

4. An apparatus for grilling frankfurters or the like, comprising a cabinet having a frankfurter grilling station therein, a rotary means at each of two points spaced across said station, means for rotating both said rotary means about aligned axes inthe same direction and at the same velocity, a pair of opposed fingers pivotally mounted on each of said rotary means for movement between open and closed positions relative to each other, said pairs of fingers being arranged facing each other to grip between them the ends of a frank- Y furter to be grilled, and means manually operable at will during rotation of said rotary means including a manually movable cross bar and pivotally mounted plates having portions engaged between the opposed fingers of each pair of fingers for moving said fingers to open positions to permit the insertion and removal of a frankfurter.

5. An apparatus for grilling frankfurters or the 12 like, comprising a cabinet having a frankiurter grilling station therein, a rotary means at each of two points spaced across said station, means for rotating both said rotary means about aligned axes in the same direction and at the same velocity, a pair of opposed ngers pivotally mounted on each of said rotary means for movement between open and closed positions relative to each other, said pairs of iingers being arranged facing each other to grip between them the ends of a frankfurter to be grilled,means manually operable at will during rotation of said rotary means including a manually movable cross bar and pivotally mounted plates having portions engaged between the opposed fingers of each pair of iingers for moving said fingers to open positions to permit the insertion anl removal of a frankfurter, and means normally yieldably urging said lingers into a closed position to grip the ends of an inserted frankfurter.

JOHN L. STERISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,162,793 Zmay June 20, 1939 2,333,175 Henley Nov. 2, 1943 

